The Nation - News from April 15, 1987

The director of the space shuttle program has recommended a practice countdown and test-firing of Discovery’s main engines before the first post-Challenger shuttle flight, an exercise that could delay launch up to two months, NASA said. The recommendation, made in Washington by Arnold Aldrich, is being reviewed by Rear Adm. Richard Truly, NASA’s associate administrator for space flight. Officials at Kennedy Space Center in Florida told Aldrich they favored the test to give launch teams confidence. Feb. 18, 1988, has been set as a target for the next flight.